Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.

CHANCY JONES SENTENCED TO 24 YEARSMyFoxMemphisLes SmithFriday, 17 Sep 2010[Excerpts] If there really was a river called "denial," then convicted murderer Chancy Jones has his oars still deeply planted in it. "I felt threatened by her," said Jones. "She had threatened me and I told the police that. And she was threatening my family at the time of that incident. I just reacted to what she had done." --"You're still blaming her. She was revving her engine. You were in fear of your life? It's still her fault?" countered Shelby County Assistant Prosecutor Missy Branham." "Yes, ma'am," Jones replied. It's been three months since the former Memphis police officer was convicted on a second degree murder charge in the execution-style shooting death of his former girlfriend Phyllis Malone in September 2008. On Friday, it was left to Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Mark Ward to pass sentence on Jones who faced a maximum of 25 years in prison. With family members of both the victim and the convicted on separate sides of the courtroom aisle, Malone's sisters took the stand to express what would be the recurring theme throughout the 80 minute long proceedings. "As our family grieves for our loss we have yet to see any sign of remorse or grief from Mr. Jones," stated Malone's sister Ophelia Harris. "His senseless act towards my sister has left us all scarred and changed forever"... "I've got a Memphis Police officer who's trained in the law. Who basically manufactured a claim of self-defense and continues to claim that," Judge Ward stated. Ward would go on to slap Jones with a 24 year prison sentence without parole... [Full article here]

...Three of the victim’s sisters testified regarding interactions they witnessed between the victim and the Defendant. One of the victim’s sisters, Samantha Malone, testified that the victim lived with her. Samantha testified that she last saw the victim on the night of her death at approximately 9:45 p.m. She said that the victim was in a “good mood,” but the victim did not tell her that she was going to meet the Defendant.

Cassandra Malone, another sister of the victim, testified that she heard the victim talking with the Defendant over the telephone using a speaker-phone two or three times. About three or four weeks prior to the victim’s death, Cassandra heard the victim tell the Defendant that if he wanted to keep the baby, she would have it, but that if he did not, she would need money to pay for an abortion. In a statement to police, Cassandra told them that she did not believe the victim was pregnant because the victim had told Cassandra that her “tubes were tied.”

The victim’s sister, Cynthia Brown, testified that she heard the victim on the phone with a person whom the victim identified as “Mr. Jones.” Brown testified that the first such occasion occurred approximately one month before the victim’s death. She said that she overheard the phone call because the victim had put it on speaker-phone. In this phone conversation, the victim told “Mr. Jones” that she needed money for an abortion. According to Brown, when the victim told “Mr. Jones” that if she did not get money she would tell his wife, “Mr. Jones” responded, “Don’t play with my family” and hung up the telephone. Brown testified that she last saw the victim at around 11:00 p.m. on the night of her death. The victim was driving Brown to work in a blue Chevrolet Impala. Brown testified that the victim was “dressed up,” had just “had her hair done,” and was in a “good mood.”

According to Brown, at approximately 10:50 p.m., the victim received a call from “Mr. Jones.” This phone call was not on speaker-phone, and Brown could only hear the victim’s side of the conversation. Brown heard the victim tell “Mr. Jones” that if he did not give her money for an abortion she would tell his wife. Brown testified that she did not think the victim was pregnant because “she had her tubes tied,” but Brown did not ask the victim whether she was actually pregnant. Brown said that the victim dropped her off at work at approximately 11:00 p.m. and that the victim told “Mr. Jones” that she would meet him at 11:20 p.m...

...For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed...